Cycle Time :  The new Wait Time in Healthcare

http://blogs.bmj.com/quality/2013/01/08/cycle-time-the-new-wait-time/

Excellent article by Dr. Douglas Woodhouse ( physician-engineer and healthcare consultant ) explains how Lean Six Sigma can assist in reduction of waiting times ( Lead time or Cycle times ) for patients. The advice and direction given in this article is also supported by well documented studies of 'best in class' manufacturing ( particularly automotive ) and service industries ( such as Call Centers ). The 'best in class' industries understand process improvement methods. tools and techniques to reduce cycle time at the same time as improving quality ( of service or product ) and at the same time reducing costs. This is the essence of the methods, tools and techniques of Lean Six Sigma which although it has been well documented for over 20 years, still has yet to be discovered or is incorrectly implemented by many organizations. My company provides training if anyone reading this is interested in learning about how Lean Six Sigma can really help improve your processes. @lean6st

Father of Scientific Management & Work Place Efficiency : Frederick Taylor

Many of the key principles of LEAN and SIX SIGMA can be found in this book first published in 1911 !

The Principles of Scientific Management  by Frederick Winslow Taylor 

 This book laid out the principles of scientific management and improvement of workplace efficiency. 

1.  Focus on improvement the process and training of workers to follow the process.

2. Management by analysis of data, hard facts and evidence ( scientific method )

3. Management to cooperate with the workers and understand the work that is being done ( now called 'the Gemba' )

4.  Management to conduct 'time and motion' scientific studies to determine the most efficient way for each worker to conduct each step in the process.  (  now addressed in the 'Waste of Motion'  in the 7-Wastes, or in the Lean tool of '5S' for workplace organization.)

5.  Exposing the fallacy that an increase in the output of each man or each machine will result in throwing a large number of men out of work.  Instead that reduced production costs can be passed on to the customer in part as reduced prices which will in turn lead to greater demand for the products.